Pellet cartridge



Oct. 27, 1964 J. w. RYAN PELLET CARTRIDGE Filed March 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 h/ K 3 4 6 p 1 any w j a U u L u 6 3 Z X 9 H a m Q "5 U 0 6 2 w a .6\ vi z I 6 I I a 1 y 1 K 4, 9 W a w 0 3 H 9 M 3 N fii o4 JOHN m RYAN,

INVENTOR.

HERZ/G d JESSUP,

ATTORNEYS- Oct. 27, 1964 J. w. RYAN PELLET CARTRIDGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1959 INVENTOR.

HERZIG 8 JESSUP,

JOHN W. RYAN Will/Ill!!! A TTORNEKS.

United States Patent 3,154,062 PELLET CARTRIDGE Nolan W. Ryan, 11027 Cashmere St., Bel Air, Calif. Filed Mar. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 798,290 8 Claims. (Cl. 124-16) This invention relates to a pellet cartridge and more particularly to a toy cartridge simulating an actual fireable cartridge for use in toy pistols, rifles, or the like.

More specifically, this invention provides a toy pellet cartridge having a shell, similar to an actual shell of a conventional cartridge, and a pellet having an outer bulletshaped appearance generally resembling that of the bullet portion of such an actual cartridge, the pellet being releasably securable to the shell. The toy cartridge includes propelling means within the shell thereof, in the form of a spring means, for propelling the pellet away from the shell when the pellet is released from engagement with the shell by an outer force directed to the releasable means holding the pellet to the shell. The releasable holding means may be effected to release the pellet from the shell by means incorporated within the breech of the toy firearm and is actuable by the striking of the hammer thereof .against an end of the shell in a realistic action simulating the result of the striking action of a real gun.

The releasable holding means releasably securing the pellet to the shell includes a plurality of resilient latch elements integral with or secured to the pellet and having hooked ends engageable with an annular lip or flange of the shell. The pellet includes a trailing portion extending into the shell when the pellet is engaged in such latching engagement, to compress the spring means within the shell whereupon, in one form, release of the releasable holding means as by an inward pressure directed against cam surfaces of the latch members causes the hooked outer ends thereof to disengage from the flange to permit the spring means to expand and thereby eject the pellet away from the shell. In another form, a rotational force applied to either the pellet or the shell causes the latch members to disengage a flange in the form of inturned tabs.

A feature of the instant invention is the unique construction of the pellet, which may be molded in a unitary construction, as by an endwise or laterally parting die, to provide an inherent resilient biasing of the latch members into engagement with the flange of the shell to securely hold the pellet to the shell until released. This application discloses two embodiments of the pellet, by way of example, but not of limitation, which are practical to manufacture in an economical molding process.

In this manner, this invention provides a new and improved pellet cartridge which can be inserted into a chamber of a cylinder or breech of a toy pistol, rifle, or the like, in a very realistic manner, simulating loading of an actual firearm, whereby, in response to the striking by the hammer of the toy gun the pellet of the cartridge is released from the shell and propelled from the gun to simulate the propelling of a bullet from the shell of an actual cartridge, such simulation being the principal object of this invention.

Another object of this invention is to provide a propellant in the shell for ejection of the pellet which is safe and harmless to use and which provides sufiicient power 3,154,062 Patented Oct. 27, 1964 ice 0d, such as molding, and in which resiliency may be provided for latch members associated therewith for resiliently and releasably engaging a portion of a shell to hold the pellet in engagement with the shell until the latches are released.

A still further object of this invention is to provide new and improved means integral with the pellet of the cartridge for a quick and positive response to an outward force for releasing the latches from the shell to fire the pellet.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pellet cartridge which is economical to manufacture and capable of mass production.

A general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pellet cartridge which overcomes disadvantages of prior means and devices heretofore intended to accomplish generally similar purposes.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view as taken along the longitudinal axis of a pellet cartridge designed and constructed in accordance with this invention; and illustrating a portion of a toy firearm as associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view as taken through the longitudinal axis of the pellet of the cartridge, illustrating the pellet in an intermediate stage;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, in elevation, thereof, illustrating the pellet as it appears in its final stage, in readiness for use;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cartridge as taken in a longitudinal plane perpendicular to the plane viewed in FIG. 1, with parts shown in elevation, and the pellet thereof shown in disengaged relationship to p the shell;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cartridge as taken substantially along a line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view in elevation, of a modified embodiment of the pellet incorporated in the pellet cartridge;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view as taken sub- FIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view as taken substantially along a line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, illustrating yet another embodiment of this in.

vention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pellet cartridge illustrating the adaptation thereof for producing a sound in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 12 is a side View, in elevation, of a further modified embodiment of the shell of this invention with parts broken away for greater clarity;

FIG. 13 is a View similar to FIG. 12, illustrating another modified embodiment thereof; and

FIG. 14 in a view similar to FIG. 12, illustrating yet another modified embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a pellet cartridge generally referred to by the numeral 10, designed and constructed in accordance with this invention. The pellet cartridge 10 comprises a tubular shell 11, having a general appearance simulating an actual shell of an actual cartridge, a pellet 12, comprising a bullet simulating body having a general appearance simulating a bullet of an actual cartridge, a releasable holding means 13, for releasably securing the pellet 12 to the shell 11, and a propelling means 14 within the shell 11, for propelling the pellet 12 away from the shell 11 upon release of the holding means 13.

The shell 11 comprises a tubular body 15 having a closed end 16 and an open end 17, the body 15 being formed of any suitable relatively rigid material such as metal, plastics, or the like. The body 15 includes an inturned annular flange 18 adjacent the open end 17. The flange 18 forms an inwardly directed shoulder 19 cooperable with the releasable holding means 13 in a manner to be hereinafter described. The closed end 16 of the body 15 is enlarged to form an outwardly extending annular flange 21 forming an inner shoulder 22 for limit ing inward insertion of the cartridge within a chamber 26 of a cylinder or breech 27 normally associated with a firearm generally indicated by the numeral 28. The shoulder 22 abuts a portion 23 of the cylinder 27 adjacent an opening 24 of the chamber 26.

The pellet 12 of the pellet cartridge 18 is formed of a resilient material, such as plastics, and includes a bulletshaped forward end 31 and a rearwardly extending portion or trailing end 32. The pellet 12 is juxtaposed to the shell 11 by inserting the trailing end 32 into the interior 33 of the shell 11 whereby a reduced end portion 34 and a shoulder 36 spaced inwardly therefrom engages the propelling means 14.

The propelling means 14, in the preferred embodiment disclosed, includes a coil spring 37 having at least one of its end coils 38 dimensionally reduced to a relatively smaller diameter to detachably fit the reduced end 34 of the trailing end 32 and to abut the shoulder 36. The coils 39, intermediate the end coils 38, are dimensioned to freely fit within the interior 33 of the shell whereby one coil indicated at 39', adjacent an end coil 38, is capable of abutting the shoulder 19 of the flange 18 to retain the spring 37 within the shell 11 when the spring 37 is fully expanded, as best seen in FIG. 4. If desired, only one reduced end coil 38 may be provided on the spring 37. However, it has been found in practice that it is preferable to have a reduced coil 38 at each end of the spring 37 to prevent inadvertent reversed insertion of the spring within the shell 11 during assembly thereof.

The releasable holding means 13 comprises a resilient latch element and is preferably integral with the pellet 12, or may be optionally formed separately and later secured thereto. This invention provides a unique structure in the holding means 13 whereby such holding means can be integrally incorporated within the pellet 12 to facilitate fabrication of the pellet 12 by the more economical methods of fabrication such as molding, die casting, or the like. The holding means 13 includes a plurality of resilient latch members 41 secured at their bases 42, see FIGS. 2 and 3, to a portion of the bullet-shaped end 31 and spaced inwardly from the spherical end 43 thereof. The latch members are separated from the end 31 by parallel slots 40. Each latch element 41 includes an outwardly facing transverse groove 44 forming a hooked outer end 46, an outwardly extending cam surface 47 and one or more laterally projecting means or shoulders 48 intermediate of the base 42 and the hooked end 46.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the latch elements 41 are primarily fabricated in a position extending outwardly and angularly from the bullet-shaped portion 31. Each face of the cam 47 and groove 44 and hooked end 46 is directed towards the forward end 43 of the pellet 12 whereas each inner face of the latch members 41 and their shoulders 48 is directed rearwardly towards the trailing end whereby the pellet 12 may be formed in a mold having a parting line P.L., coincident with inner faces 49 of the hooked ends 46, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis indicated at 51 of the pellet 12. Suitable draft angles are pnovided on each of the above surfaces to facilitate withdrawal of die halves of the mold (not shown). The lateral shoulders 48 are provided with parallel sides 52 which are substantially parallel to the axis 51, to facilitate such withdrawal.

Internal shoulder means 53 are formed on the interior 54 of the bullet-shaped portion 31, whereby the latch elements 41 may be manually or otherwise biased downwardly to a position substantially parallel to the axis 51, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to force the shoulders 48 through the slots 40 by spreading side portions 56 of the portion 31 until outer faces 57 of the shoulders 48 are brought into abutting engagement with the internal shoulders 54 whereupon resiliency of the material of the pellet 12 causes the portions 56 to contract and retain the latch elements 41 in such a parallel position with the shoulders 48 biased towards the shoulders 53 by virtue of the resilience of the material in the region at 42. By this means, the latch means 41 are capable of being biased inwardly but are limited in their outward movement by the abutment of the shoulders 48 with the shoulders 53.

To secure the pellet 12 to the shell 11, the trailing end 32 of the pellet is inserted into the interior 33 of the shell 11 by engaging the reduced end 34 with an end coil 38 of the spring 37 to compress the spring 37 until the latch members 41 enter through the open end 17 and beyond the flange 18. The latch elements 41 are provided with sloping leading surfaces 57 to facilitate insertion thereof into the opening and to cam the latch members 41 inwardly until the groove 44 is aligned with the flange 18 after which the latch elements 41 resiliently spring outwardly to engage the flange 18. The spring 37 then biases forwardly facing shoulders 58 of the hooked outer end 46 into engagement with the shoulders 19 formed by the flange 18 to resiliently secure the pellet 12 to the shell 11 until released.

It will be now be more clearly understood that simultaneous inward pressure against the latch members 41 will cause the hooked ends 46 to disengage the flange 18 and permit the spring 37 to propel the pellet 12 away from the shell 11. For this purpose the cam surfaces 47 extend outwardly of the bullet-shaped portion 31 to be engaged by squeezing means which may be incorporated in the chamber 26 of the firearm 28. Such a squeezing means is indicated at 60, in FIG. 1, in the form of an annular shoulder 59 having an inner diameter 61 appreciably smaller than the radial distance of the apex 62 of each latch element 41 to form an interference fit between the inner diameter 61 and the apices 62 of the cams 47 and squeeze the latch members 41 inwardly a suflicient dis tance to disengage the hooked ends 46 from the flange 18.

To fire the cartridge, that is, to propel the pellet away from the shell 11, the cartridge 10 is positioned in the chamber 26 so that the cam surface 47 is adjacent the squeezing means 59 and a gap is formed between the flange shoulder 22 and the cylinder surface 23 whereby striking movement as by a hammer indicated at 65 into the position shown in broken lines 65' forces the shell 11 further into the chamber 26 to force the cam surface 47 against the squeezing means 59 to squeeze the members 41 inwardly and thereby disengage the hooked ends 46 from the flange 18. Thereupon, the spring 37 is freed to expand and to propel the pellet 12 away from the shell 11 and through a barrel (not shown) of the gun.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 6-9 of the drawings, there is illustrated another embodiment of this invention in which a modified pellet and spring construction is illustrated. The pellet construction of the instant embodiment is essentially adapted for forming in dies (not shown) which part in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pellet, as indicated by the broken line PL. in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, a pellet 12, having a bullet-shaped forward end 31', is provided with a bifurcated trailing end 66 extendable into the shell 11 identical to the shell described in the previous embodiment. The latch members of the instant embodiment, indicated at 67, are secured at their bases 68 to the bulletshaped portion 31, similar to the latch members 41. The latch members 67 are provided with resiliency by providing relatively thin webs 69 connecting the latch element 67 with the body 71 of the pellet 12'. The latch members 67 of the pellet 12 are initially positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis indicated at 70 in FIG. 7, rather than the angular relationship of the elemnts 41 in the first embodiment. The latch members 67 are each provided with a cam surface 72, hooked end 73, and a transverse groove 74 similar to the cam surface 47, hooked end 46 and transverse groove 44, respectively, of the first embodiment, for identical purposes, whereby the hooked ends 73 may be flexed inwardly for insertion of the trailing end 66 of the pellet 12' into the interior 33 of the shell 11 until the groove 74 engages the flange 18 of the shell.

The trailing end 66 of the instant embodiment is preferably bifurcated to form a pair of reanwardly extending members 76 engageable with a reduced end coil 77 of a coil spring 78 forming the propelling means within the shell 11. Similarly to the spring 37 of the first embodiment, the coils subsequent to the end coil 77 are of such diameter as to abut the inner shoulder 19 formed by the flange 18 to retain the spring 78 within the shell 11 at the expulsion of the pellet 12. The webs 69 permit flexing of the element 67 inwardly of the body 71 to disengage the hooked end 73 from the flange 18.

To fire the instant embodiment the cartridge 10' is positioned within the chamber 26 similarly to the operation described for the first embodiment wherein an inward squeezing action against cam surfaces 72 causes the hooked ends 73 to disengage from the flange 18 and release the pellet 12' for ejection by the spring 78.

Referring to FIG. 10, another embodiment of this invention is illustrated, wherein a flange 18' adjacent the open end 17' of the cartridge shell 11' is shown as form ing a plurality of inturned tabs 81 having spaces 82 therebetween. The number of tabs 81 equals the number of latch elements such as 41 of the pellet 12 concerned with the first embodiment. The pellet 12, or the pellet 12', may be used in this instant embodiment of the shell 11 each having hooked ends 46, 73 on latch members 41, 67 respectively, to engage a tab like '81 in the place of the flange 18, whereupon the pellet 12, or the pellet 12', may be released from the shell 11' by exerting a rotational force on either the shell 11' or the pellet, to rotate one relative to the other, to rotate the hooked end 46 (or 73) from the tabs 81 and into a space 82 whereby the trailing end 32 (or 66) and its associated pellet may be propelled by a spring like 37, or optionally spring 78.

Referring to FIG. 11, means for producing a realistic sound when the cartridge is struck by the hammer 65 is illustrated, wherein a sharp explosive report is produced substantially simultaneously with ejection of the pellet from the shell. Such sound producing means is illustrated in the form of a percussive cap, indicated at 85, having a charge 86 of foraminous material encased therein and explodable upon striking of a hammer as described in my copending application, entitled Percussive Cap Structure, Serial No. 791,983, filed February 9, 1959, now Patent No. 2,998,777.

The cap 85 preferably includes, as described in the above-mentioned application, an adhesive surface 87 by which it may be adhered to the outer surface 88 of the end wall 16 of the shell 10, whereupon the cap is interposed between the end wall 16 and the hammer 65 to be detonated by the hammer when it strikes the end wall 16 in the manner heretofore described. By this means, a sharp explosive report is emitted at the same time the pellet 12, or optionally the pellet 12', is ejected from the shell 11 (or shell 11').

As best seen in FIG. 12, an opening 89 may be provided extending through an end Wall 16a of a shell 11a, identical in every other respect to either the shell 11 or 11, whereby smoke produced by detonation of the cap 85 secured to the outer surface, as described in FIG. 11, is emitted through the opening 89, the tubular shell 11a and outwardly of the firearm as through a hollow barrel (not shown) aligned therewith to produce a very realistic eifect simulating firing of an actual firearm.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate further modified embodiments of the shell of the instant invention, wherein provision is made for the temporary securement of percussive caps which are not provided with an adhesive surface like surface 87 of the cap of FIG. 11. In FIG. 13, a shell 11b is illustrated, identical to shell 11, or optionally shell 11, with the exception of the end wall 16b being provided with an inwardly extending recess 99 wherein a percussive cap 91, having an outer configuration slightly larger than the recess 90, is jammed into the recess for detonation by the hammer of the firearm.

An opening 92, as illustrated in FIG. 14, may be provided in an end wall 16c of a shell 11c identical in other respects to the shell 11b, whereby smoke produced by the detonation of the cap, like 91, may be emitted through the opening 92, the shell 11c, and outwardly of the firearm as described in connection with the shell embodiment 11a of FIG. 12, thereby producing a realistic smoke emitting, sound producing action in addition to the ejection of the pellet in response to the striking action of the hammer of the firearm.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and methods.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A pellet cartridge comprising: a shell having an open end and a closed end and internalshoulder means adjacent said open end; a pellet adjacent said open end and having a bullet-shaped forward end and a trailing end extendable into the interior of said shell; releasable holding means integral with said pellet for releasably securing said pellet to said shoulder means and a spring in said shell, said spring having one end bearing against said closed end and another end bearing against said trailing end for biasing said trailing end outwardly of said shell, said releasable holding means including a plurality of resilient latch members, said latch members having hooked outer ends engageable with said annular shoulder means so as to latch said pellet against the outward bias of said spring means, said latch members being inwardly yieldable for disengaging said hooked outer ends from said flange to. release said pellet from said shell, each of said latch members, when in an inactive position, being extended angularly outwardly of said pellet and having outer faces directed toward said forward end, inner faces directed toward said trailing ends and parallel opposing sides, each of said sides being parallel to alongitudinal axis of said pellet; and each of said latch members being connected to said pellet whereby, in an active position, said latch members are bent inwardly and parallel to each other and to said longitudinal axis.

2. A pellet cartridge as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the said latch members includes a lateral shoulder means, each having, in said inactive position, outer surfaces directed towards said forward end and inner surfaces directed toward said trailing end and side faces perpendicular to said latch members and parallel to said longitudinal axis; and said pellet includes internal undercut shoulder means, said outer surfaces of said lateral shoulder means being engageable with an internal undercut shoulder means for limiting outward bias of said latch elements.

3. A pellet cartridge comprising, a shell having an open forward end, a pellet having a portion extending rearwardly into the shell, releasable holding means on said pellet for releasably holding said pellet in said shell,

spring means in the shell normally urging said pellet outwardly of said shell, and said releasable holding means having means extending laterally from said pellet outside of and forwardly of said shell whereby said means may be actuated from externally of the shell to release said holding means.

4. A cartridge as in claim 3 wherein said releasable holding means comprises outwardly biased latch members and means for limiting outward movement of the latch members relative to said pellet.

5. A pellet cartridge comprising, a shell having an open end, a pellet having a portion extending into the shell, releasable holding means on said pellet for releasably holding said pellet in said shell, spring means in the shell normally urging said pellet outwardly of said shell, and said releasable holding means having means on said pellet outside of said shell whereby said means may be actuated externally of the shell to release said shell and said releasable holding means comprising means whereby upon relative rotation as between the pellet and the shell the pellet is released.

6. A cartridge as in claim 3 wherein said shell has an inwardly extending shoulder at said forward end, said pellet being bullet shaped, the releasable holding means normally engaging said shoulder.

7. A pellet cartridge comprising, a shell having an open end, a pellet having a portion extending into the shell, releasable holding means on said pellet for releasably holding said pellet in said shell, spring means in the shell normally urging said pellet outwardly of said shell, and said releasable holding means having means on said pellet outside of said shell whereby said means may be actuated externally of the shell to release said releasable holding means comprising means responsive to axial movement of the shell for releasing the pellet.

8. A pellet for a toy firearm, comprising: a body having a bullet simulating forward portion and a reduced portion extending rearwardly therefrom; at least one resilient latch element movably mounted on said body to extend therealong and having a latch portion adjacent the rear of said forward portion; resilient means urging said element to move laterally outwardly of said body; laterally outwardly projecting means on said element, adjacent said latch portion, manipulable to move said latch element inwardly; and cooperating abutment means on said latch element and said body limiting outward movement of said latch element relative to said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,284,497 Vidaver Nov. 12, 1918 1,311,949 Cooper Aug. 5, 1919 1,585,075 Boyce May 18, 1926 1,644,058 Henke Oct. 4, 1927 1,735,079 Henke Nov. 12, 1929 1,735,086 Paxson Nov. 12, 1929 1,744,649 Lecroy Jan. 21, 1930 2,037,612 Archer Apr. 14, 1936 2,409,653 Amdur Oct. 22, 1946 2,629,600 Edmonds Feb. 24, 1953 2,705,003 Schensted Mar. 29, 1955 2,751,711 Greenwood June 26, 1956 2,781,753 Formis Feb. 19, 1957 2,797,924 Stewart July 2, 1957 2,837,077 Frazelle June 3, 1958 2,977,950 Ryan Apr. 4, 1961 3,067,680 Lahr Dec. 11, 1962 

1. A PELLET CARTRIDGE COMPRISING: A SHELL HAVING AN OPEN END AND A CLOSED END AND INTERNAL SHOULDER MEANS ADJACENT SAID OPEN END; A PELLET ADJACENT SAID OPEN END AND HAVING A BULLET-SHAPED FORWARD END AND A TRAILING END EXTENDABLE INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID SHELL; RELEASABLE HOLDING MEANS INTEGRAL WITH SAID PELLET FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID PELLET TO SAID SHOULDER MEANS AND A SPRING IN SAID SHELL, SAID SPRING HAVING ONE END BEARING AGAINST SAID CLOSED END AND ANOTHER END BEARING AGAINST SAID TRAILING END FOR BIASING SAID TRAILING END OUTWARDLY OF SAID SHELL, SAID RELEASABLE HOLDING MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF RESILIENT LATCH MEMBERS, SAID LATCH MEMBERS HAVING HOOKED OUTER ENDS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID ANNULAR SHOULDER MEANS SO AS TO LATCH SAID PELLET AGAINST THE OUTWARD BIAS OF SAID SPRING MEANS, SAID LATCH MEMBERS BEING INWARDLY YIELDABLE FOR DISENGAGING SAID HOOKED OUTER ENDS FROM SAID FLANGE TO RELEASE SAID PELLET FROM SAID SHELL, EACH OF SAID LATCH MEMBERS, WHEN IN AN INACTIVE POSITION, BEING EXTENDED ANGULARLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID PELLET AND HAVING OUTER FACES DIRECTED TOWARD SAID FORWARD END, INNER FACES DIRECTED TOWARD SAID TRAILING ENDS AND PARALLEL OPPOSING SIDES, EACH OF SAID SIDES BEING PARALLEL TO A LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID PELLET; AND EACH OF SAID LATCH MEMBERS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID PELLET WHEREBY, IN AN ACTIVE POSITION, SAID LATCH MEMBERS ARE BENT INWARDLY AND PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS. 